"The Lost King: 500 Years of Destiny" Director Stephen Frears The importance of sticking to your own opinion [Director's Interview Vol.356]

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2023.09.21Fumio Koda

The importance of sticking to your own opinion

Q: This work teaches us the importance of believing in yourself and not being influenced by the opinions of those around you. Isn't it important and difficult to maintain this stance as a director when making a film that involves many people?

Frears: It's difficult not to be influenced by the opinions of those around you, but I think it's important to stick to your own opinions. Especially when I went to Hollywood, I realized how free independent work is. In Hollywood, I was told all the time that I should listen to the opinions of the investors. I felt that as an independent artist, I was able to reflect more of myself in my work.

Q: You have been a film director for over 50 years, but do you feel that your work has changed or your position in the field has changed or evolved?

Frears: I guess it's changed, but I'm not particularly conscious of it. I'm really grateful that I can continue to make movies like this. Nothing more. However, it's very sad that the movies that I grew up with are on the brink of death, but I think we have to accept that.

Q: What exactly does it mean to be in a state of near death?

Frears: Maybe it's because I'm old, but I'm not interested in Marvel movies or hero movies at all. It's fine for young people to do what they're interested in, but I feel like the movies that I grew up watching are unfortunately disappearing... It's a shame that fewer people are telling human stories.

Q: Which directors or movies have influenced you?

Frears: I grew up watching classic Hollywood movies from the 40s and 50s, and I loved American movies from the 70s and watched them a lot. These are Scorsese and Coppola movies. It's sad that such directors don't exist anymore, but I feel very Lucky to have lived in the same era as such great directors.

Q: You have made various films so far, but what kind of films would you like to make in the future?

Frears: Next year, I'm going to make a movie with director Billy Wilder as the main character. Although it is based on a British novel, I think it will be as sad and funny as this work.

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Director: Stephen Frears

Born in 1941 in Leicester, England. For the first 15 years of his career, he was mainly involved in TV dramas, producing many works for the BBC. In 1985, she came into the limelight with the movie ``My Beautiful Laundred.'' His Hollywood debut, ``Dangerous Liaisons'' (1988), won the 15th Cesar Award for Best Foreign Film and was nominated for seven Academy Awards®, including Best Picture, and received high acclaim. In 1990, he received his first Academy Award® nomination for Best Director for ``The Grifters,'' and won the Silver Bear Award (Best Director) at the 49th Berlin International Film Festival for ``Hi-Low Country'' (1998). He was again nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Director for 2006's Queen. Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope, who also wrote the screenplay for ``Until the Day I Hold You'' (2013), won the Best Screenplay Award at the 70th Venice International Film Festival. He is one of the most outstanding British directors, consistently working in a wide variety of styles, themes and genres. Other directorial works include "Mrs. Henderson's Gift" (2005), "Sheri" (2009), "The Gambler" (2012), "Suspicious Champion" (15), and "Madame Florence!" "The Dreaming Couple" (16), "Queen Victoria's Last Secret" (17), etc.

Interview and text: Fumio Koda

Editorial staff and writer for CINEMORE. My favorite movies are ``The Goonies'' and ``Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.'' My recent favorites are 4K digitally remastered classics by Akira Kurosawa and Yasujiro Ozu.

“Lost King: 500 Years of Destiny”

From September 22nd (Friday), TOHO Cinemas Chante and other nationwide roadshows

Distribution: Culture Publishers

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